A Certified Nursing Assistant is considered a team player when it comes to tasks and responsibilities. CNAs have to work for long hours, and that is when they have to take charge of numerous critical duties on a daily basis. Here are some of the major CNA duties and responsibilities.
CNA Job Description: What duties do CNA perform?
- Providing Patient Care
This entails applying dressings, directing exercise routines as well as supplying and draining the bedpans. Additionally, you may also have to assist patients while coming in and out of bed, exercising and walking. Repositioning and turning bedridden patients, shifting patients to treatment units with the help of a wheelchair or a stretcher also comes under patient care, providing patient care treatment to prevent bedsores. - Collecting specimens
Taking sputum specimens and samples of feces or urine for lab testing is also a major duty of a nursing assistant. - Changing Bed Linens and Cleaning Patient’s Room
Since patients are not usually in a condition to do their core duties, such as bath, make their beds, clean their beddings, it is the work of the nursing assistant to carry out those patients. - Managing treatments and medications
CNAs are responsible for carrying out crucial patient processes, such as massages, douches, enemas, suppositories, irrigations, catheterization, etc. directed by a nurse or a physician. - Adhering to the occupational standard
A certified nursing assistant is required to adhere to their professional standard while performing their duties. You are not only required to follow hospital procedures and guidelines, but stick to the local, state, and federal requirements too. - Maintaining Work Operations
You will be required to maintain your job duties as well as follow the procedures and policies of the facility you work. - Taking care of meals and feeding
A nursing assistant is required to help patients in their daily activities, such as ambulating and position patients, feeding the patients, serving meals, supplying fresh to patients among other duties. - Assisting patients in their personal hygiene
CNAs are responsible for assisting patients in maintaining their personal hygiene. This may include shampoos, shaves, brushing their teeth, back rubs urinals, baths, bedpans and etc. You may also have to support patients by assisting them in the bathroom and helping them take a bath. - Listening to the Health Concerns of Patients
Another key role of a nursing assistant is to assist the Register Nurse in doing his or her job. One way of doing this is to talk to patients while doing your work. You need to listen to their health concerns and record them in notes. After that, you need to report this new health info to nurses in an accurate fashion. - Preparing the Patient for Surgery
CNAs work to prepare patients for operation or surgery, if they have to undergo any. - Equipment Usage
Certified Nursing Assistants help nurses in handling equipment, such as bedpans, anti-embolism stockings, bladder scanners, ventilators, etc. CNAs are also responsible for cleaning medical equipment and also ensuring that they are properly sterilized.
Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs: Facts and Figures
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment for certified nursing assistants is expected to grow by 11 percent from 2016 to 2036. As the baby-boom population ages, CNAs will be hired to assist them in their daily activities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the expected median annual for CNAs was $27,520 in May 2017.
Due to the nursing shortage in most states in the U.S., careers in nursing are in high demand. This means that if you begin your career as a CNA today, you can further your nursing career and get a better job. BLS reports that the biggest employers of nursing assistant include:
· General medical and surgical hospitals
· Assisted living facilities for elderly and continuing care retirement communities
· Nursing care facilities
About competition, it is important to note that nursing homes, hospitals, and long term care facilities operate around the clock, meaning that CNAs will have to work for long hours nights, weekends, or holidays. To beat the competition, you should be willing to work overtime. This will make you a more desirable candidate.
Comparison of CNA With Other Similar Occupations
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Vs. Certified Nursing Assistant
Both licensed practical nurses and CNAs play an important role in providing routine care to patients in hospitals, nursing homes, and other long term health care centers. Their duties are nearly similar, except that an LPN has more technical and supervisory responsibilities than a nursing assistant. Both professions have certain differences in terms of scope of practice, coursework, and salary. Let’s examine them in detail.
- Scope of practice
LPNs report to Registered Nurses (RNs). They can carry out the duties of a certified nursing assistant. Licensed practical nurses act as supervisors of CNAs. CNAs can perform the job of a LPN, but are not authorized to take independent decisions. - Salary
When compared to CNAs, LPN salary is much higher and may earn an average salary of $40,900 with an hourly range of $12 to $25. CNAs earn an average salary of about $24,040 annually. - Duties and Responsibilities
LPN jobs include dressing wounds, conducting minor surgeries, filing medical reports, performing lab tests, giving injections and enemas as well as monitoring catheters. The primary role of a nursing assistant is to take of the crucial needs of a patient as discussed earlier. - Examination
To acquire an LPN license, you must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Licensed Practical Nurses. To acquire a nursing assistant certificate, you must qualify the certification examination organized by the concerned state.
Registered Nurse VS. Certified Nursing Assistant
Both RNs and CNAs work in the same industry. They have unique duties and responsibilities and it important that you know the difference between both careers. You can use this info to plan your future profession.
- Scope of practice
RNs supervise LPNs and CNAs. They work closely and directly with patients to accomplish the duties and tasks of a nursing assistant. CNAs, work under the supervision of RNs. They cannot carry out the duties of a registered nurse nor can they take their own decisions. - Salary
RN salary ranges from $22.11 to$ 30.80 per hour. The average annual salary ranges from$41,190 to $79,789. CNAs earn an average salary of about $24,040 annually. - Duties and Responsibilities
RN salary ranges from $22.11 to$ 30.80 per hour. The average annual salary ranges from$41,190 to $79,789. CNAs earn an average salary of about $24,040 annually. - Examination
To acquire an RN license, you must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for RNs. To acquire a nursing assistant certificate, you must qualify the certification examination organized by the concerned state.
